Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE
Toho and Tsuburaya Productions have provided high quality photos and information on their highly-anticipated new SHIN ULTRAMAN (シン・ウルトラマン, Shin Urutoraman). The movie is an adaption of the original ULTRAMAN (ウルトラマン 空想特撮シリーズ, Urutoraman Kūsō Tokusatsu Shirīzu, 1966-67) television series. Heading the creative team are writer/producer Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION) and director Shinji Higuchi (Gamera Trilogy, ATTACK ON TITAN), the co-directors of the award-winning box office smash SHIN GODZILLA (シン・ゴジラ, Shin Gojira, 2016).SHIN ULTRAMAN opens in Japanese theaters on May 13th.
Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saitoh). Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
STORY
The existence of Kaiju, giant unidentified lifeforms, has become commonplace in Japan. Designated as “S-Class Species” (禍威獣, Wazawai i-jū) by the Japanese Government, these creatures have proven impervious to conventional weapons. Having exhausted all other options, the government issued the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol (禍威獣特設対策室, Wazawai i-jū Tokusetsu Taisaku-shitsu) and gathered specialists to form an enforcement unit, known as the SSSP (禍特対 [カトクタイ], Wazawai Toku Tai [Katokutai] ), to combat the evil beasts.
The members chosen for the unit are Team Leader Fumio Tamura (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima), Executive Strategy Officer Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saitoh), Unparticle Physicist Akihisa Taki (Daiki Arioka), and Universal Biologist Yume Funaberi (Akari Hayami).
As the threat of the S-Class Species worsens, a silver giant suddenly appears from beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Analyst Hiroko Asami (played by Masami Nagasawa) is newly appointed to the SSSP to deal with this giant and is partnered with Shinji Kaminaga.
In Hiroko’s report, she writes…
“Ultraman (tentative name), identity unknown”.
Hiroko Asami (Masami Nagasawa). Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
*Release plans outside Japan are yet to be announced
© 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee ©Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd.
SSSP Leader Fumio Tamura (Hidetoshi Nishijima). Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
Neronga. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
Akihisa Taki (Daiki Arioka). Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
Ultraman arrives on Earth. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2021 Shin Ultraman Production Committee
About Tsuburaya Productions
Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years’ experience, it is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.
About Toho
Toho Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio focused on the development, production, exhibition, and distribution of powerful content for motion pictures, television and theater. Founded in 1932, it remains a prominent force in bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include Toho Cinemas, the highest grossing exhibition company in Japan. To learn more, visit toho.co.jp/en.